Paper roll dispenser



S. R. LLEWELLYN PAPER ROLL DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A? m BY July 9, 1963 s. R. LLEWELLYN 3,096,883

PAPER ROLL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J2; A? Mare/4w United States Patent M 3,096,883 PAPER ROLL DISPENSER Sam R. Llewellyn, P.0. Box 776, La Feria, Tex. Filed Aug. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 134,753 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-83)v This invention relates to roll-type dispensers, and in particular to a rack for holding packaged dispensing rolls, such as rolls of wax paper, impermeable plastic sheet, and metal foil, which are sold in carboard boxes having a serrated edge for guided tearing. While the packaged dispensing roll represents a degree of convenience, it is nevertheless attended with certain shortcomings. For instance, during non-use it is stored away in a cupboard, and must be brought out, intermittently, for brief periods, and returned to storage. Also, it requires the use of both hands, to open the flap, and tear off a sheet, which is not only inconvenient and annoying, but also frequently results in irregular tearing.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a holding rack for roll dispensing packages, which is capable of mounting in a location adapted for ready use of the dispenser. Another object is to provide a holder for dispensers which enables manipulation with a single hand. More particularly, it is an object to provide a holder with open-work structure, which is not only economical of material, but enables access to the package, for utilization of its built-in dispensing features. Yet another object is to provide a rack with attaching features which are adjustable for fitting to available wall space. The objects also include low cost, ease of manufacture, and ruggedness combined with reliability of operation.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention which may be briefly described as comprising a rack in the form of a rectangular cage, formed of wire stock, with minimized structural members, and a rod hinged at one end and adapted to be locked in position spanning the length of the rack above the dispensing package, to retain it within the rack, while leaving the dispensing flap of the package free for swinging movement.

For a more detailed description, reference is made to the following specification, as illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the cage-form rack, showing, in broken lines, an adjusted position of the swinging, lock bar, and the mounting legs bent to adjusted positions,

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the cage, partly in section, as seen along the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2, showing a dispensing package within the rack, and

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of the rack.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown an elongated, rectangular rack of openwork structure, composed of wire-like elements or rods, comprising three, identical U-form slings, or ribs 10, having horizontal bottom sections 12, front vertical legs 14, and rear vertical legs 16, with each set of corresponding sections arranged in a common plane. The slings are located, respectively, at the two ends and the mid, transverse plane of the rack, and are connected by a pair of longitudinally-extending rods 18 and 20, at diagonally opposite corners of the rack, as well as a rod 22 extending along the under side of the rack, medially of the width thereof, and extending beyond the ends of the rack. The pants may be secured together by welding, soldering or brazing. Front, vertical sections 14 of the slings have outwardlycurved, upper ends 24, in the outer concavity of which 3,996,883 Patented July 9, 1963 the rod 18 is attached. Rod 20 is attached to the under sides of the cross members 12 of the slings. The upper ends of rear sections 16 of the slings are bevelled on the inner side, as at 26, and this feature, as well as the outwardly-turned upper ends of the front sections 14 facilitates lodgment of the dispensing package in the rack, and avoids damage to the package.

For attachment to a wall, cupboard, or other location, the rack is provided with a pair of rods 28, each secured, centrally of its length, to one of the respective end sections 16 of the slings, in tangential and parallel relation, and each rod 28 has bent loops 30 at each end, for reception of attaching screws 32 As shown by the broken lines in FIGURE 1, the outer portions of rods 28 may be bent to locate the screw-receiving loops in different positions to meet the requirements of available space, and the upper two of these bends will be located just above a horizontal1y-disposed rod 34, secured at its ends to the mounting rods 28.

The longitudinal rod 22 below the rack has two further functions, in that it forms part of the hinge for the upper, swinging, lock rod- 36, and also forms an anchor for the latching thereof. Thus, at one end the rod 22 has an upwardly-bent, vertical section 38, with a loop 40 at its upper end, which loop is interengaged with a loop 42 on one end of lock rod 36. The latter, at its other end, has a laterally-bent section 44, the outer end of which is formed into a hook 46, which engages the protruding, free end of the lower rod 22.

From the foregoing, the merits of the device will be obvious. For hanging on a wall space, it is merely necessary to apply screws through the loops 3%, bending the rods 28, if necessary, to comport with the available space, or to reach a position favorable to screw-fastening. With the rack in place, the dispensing package 48, shown in broken lines in FIGURES 2 and 5, and in solid lines in FIGURES 3 and 4, is inserted in the rack, after lifting the swinging rod 36 out of the way, deposit of the package being facilitated by turned ends 24 and bevelled ends 26 of the slings. After deposit of the package, the rod 36 is swung downward into pressing engagement along the top of the package 48, and its end hook 46 engaged with the extending end of rod 22. As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the lock rod 36 is so located that it ofifers no interference with the free movement of the swinging flap 50 of the package. In its location, and range of influence, the lock rod 36 is similar to the thumb of a user in the ordinary, two-handed manipulation, and it may be said that the lock rod, in cooperation with the rack, takes the place of one hand of the user, freeing it for other, and demanding tasks. Since the package is trapped in the cage, selected lengths of sheet are easily torn off by a downward sweep with one hand.

Generally speaking, whereas a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A holding rack for roll dispensing packages comprising an elongated, open-work cage of assembled, rodlike elements, comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel U-form rib sections, with outer and inner legs, the tops of the outer legs of said sections being curved outwardly, a first rod attached to said outer legs, near the tops thereof in the concave part of said curved portion, a second rod secured to the under sides of said sections near the inner legs thereof, the tops of the inner legs of said sections being bevelled on the inner side, a third rod secured to the under sides of said sections, medially of the width thereof, and extending longitudinally of the cage, beyond the ends thereof, with a transversely-disposed end portion extending in the direction of the tops of said legs, and having a looped end, a fourth rod having a looped end engaging the first-mentioned looped end, said fourth rod being of a length to extend beyond s aid cage, lengthwise thereof, and having a trans versely-disposed end portion, with a hooked end, adapted to engage the extending portion of said third rod, a fifth and a sixth rod secured, respectively, to the inner legs of the end rib sections in parallel and tangential relation thereto, said latter rods extending above and below the cage, and having looped ends, and a seventh rod secured to said latter rods.

12. A holding rack for roll dispensing packages comprising an elongated, open-work cage of assembled, rodlike elements, comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel U-forrn rib sections, with outer and inner legs, a first rod attached to said outer legs near the top thereof, a second rod secured to the under sides of said sections near the inner legs thereof, a third rod secured to the under sides of said sections, medially of the Width thereof and extending longitudinally of the cage, beyond the ends thereof, With a transversely-disposed end portion extending in the direction of the tops of said legs, and having a looped end, a fourth rod having a looped end engaging the first-mentrioned looped end, said fourth rod being of a length to extend beyond said cage, lengthwise thereof, and having a transversely-disposed end portion, with a hooked end, adapted to engage the extending portion of said thri'd rod, a fifth and a sixth rod secured, respectively, to the inner legs of the end rib sections in parallel and tangential relation thereto, said latter rods extending above and below the cage, and having looped ends, and a seventh rod secured to said latter rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 579,295 Delzell Mar. 23, 1897 1,235,358 Mayfi'eld July 31, 1917 1,359,125 Stevens Nov. 16, 1920 1,706,081 Schulze Mar. 19, 1929 2,698,690 Rubenstein Jan. 4, 1955 2,925,206 Hancock Feb. 16, 1960 

2. A HOLDING RACK FOR ROLL DISPENSING PACKAGES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, OPEN-WORK CAGE OF ASSEMBLED, RODLIKE ELEMENTS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED, PARALLEL U FORM RIB SECTIONS, WITH OUTER AND INNER LEGS, A FIRST ROD ATTACHED TO SAID OUTER LEGS NEAR THE TOP THEREOF, A SECOND ROD SECURED TO THE UNDER SIDES OF SAID SECTIONS NEAR THE INNER LEGS THEREOF, A THIRD ROD SECURED TO THE UNDER SIDES OF SAID SECTIONS, MEDIALLY OF THE WIDTH THEREOF AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CAGE, BEYOND THE ENDS THEREOF, WITH A TRANSVERSELY-DISPOSED END PORTION EXTENDDING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TOPS OF SAID LEGS, AND HAVING A LOOPED END, A FOURTH ROD HAVING A LOOPED END ENGAGING THE FIRST-MENTIONED LOOPED END, SAID FOURTH ROD BEING OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND BEYOND SAID CAGE, LENGTHWISE THEREOF, AND HAVING A TRANSVERSELY-DISPOSED END PORTION, WITH A HOOKED END, ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID THIRD ROD, A FIFTH AND A SIXTH ROD SECURED, RESPECTIVELY, TO THE INNER LEGS OF THE END RIB SECTIONS IN PARALLEL AND TANGENTIAL RELATION THERETO, SAID LATTER RODS EXTENDING ABOVE AND BELOW THE CAGE, AND HAVING LOOPED ENDS, AND A SEVENTH ROD SECURED TO SAID LATTER RODS. 